Aging Into Expectations
So I turned 21
And I couldn’t help but feel
That the dreams I once had
Began to slowly seal
That every birthday after this
I sink further into the mundane
And the painful truths that await
But hey… “no pain, no gain”
Even good ol’ Christmas time
All the love and holiday cheer
Floats away for every candle that’s blown
As the magic becomes less clear
We’re all expected to hustle
All through the day and all the night
Pushing the “non-stop” agenda
That’s dimming our light
They say college is the peak
As if there’s nothing but dread ahead
An endless loop of bills and stress
That doesn’t cease until your dead
Who saw this Earth,
The grass, the sun, the sky
And decided that the hustle was more important
Who came up with this lie?
8 hours of sleep, 10,000 steps a day
2 liters of water; oh and did you pray?
Meal prep, invest, and keep your house clean
Stay on track, follow your routine
“Attend an Ivy League School”
“Do well on the SAT”
“Have it all figured out”
“Channel that constant productivity”
And for what?
To be in debt, to sacrifice your health, to be belittled by your boss?
When did prioritizing me and my dreams
Become an instant loss?
When did exhaustion become the norm?
How are we meant to persevere?
If there’s no rainbow after the storm
Day after day, year after year
So what is the goal here?
If not to live free
And not bound to the shackles of expectations
Except those created by me
But I’ll choose to keep faith
That this life is more than they say
I’ll keep my head high
And do life my own way
Copyright © Emily Brooke | Year Posted 2025
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